The keyboard is one of the most important peripherals for your PC since it's one of two accessories you'll use the most — the other being a trusty mouse. Mechanical keyboards come in all shapes and sizes with different switches, form factors, and capabilities. Each key has its own spring-based mechanism, hall effect using magnets, or optical light induction underneath called a switch. These switches can be customized by the manufacturer to offer different types. Some may offer softer feedback and quicker responses, while others may be clickier and require a little more force to actuate. Here, we're looking at the best mechanical keyboards, including mod-friendly options.
What is the best mechanical keyboard?
Keychron Q1 Pro
Premium through-and-through
The Keychron Q1 Pro is a solidly built, full-metal mechanical keyboard with hot-swap sockets for easy modding, wired and wireless connectivity, and it works with Macs and PCs.
- Mod-friendly
- Has a rotary encoder
- Wired and wireless connectivity
- Expensive
- Not widely available yet
Keychron has a reputation for solidly-built mechanical keyboards with deep customizability, and the Q1 Pro is no exception. This 75% typing beast is CNC'ed from solid slabs of aluminum, so it's got some real heft to stay put no matter how hard your typing style is. It can be purchased as a preassembled, ready-to-go keyboard with a wide choice of switches or as a barebones base kit to add your own switches, keycaps, and other components. The pre-assembled kit can also be customized, as all variants come with hot-swap sockets for putting your choice of switches in.
It's also wireless, with Bluetooth 5.1 for pairing with up to three devices, and a USB-C connection as a fallback and to charge the internal battery. In wired mode, it has a 1,000Hz polling rate for quick responsiveness, and it's compatible with Macs and PCs. Keychron also made it support VIA and QMK, the two most popular open-source firmware packages for mechanical keyboards, so the Q1 Pro has deep customizability.
Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series
If you don't want a numpad
Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series is a mouthful of a name, but this mechanical keyboard is worth considering if all you want is a great typing machine without a numpad. It has several Cherry MX switch options, 8,000Hz polling, and a detachable USB-C connection.
- Durable aluminum frame
- Detachable cable for longevity
- Corsair iCUE RGB control
- No wireless option
- Can be noisy due to the open design
Corsair is another brand that makes some excellent keyboards, and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series the best tenkeyless (TKL) option. As well as the attractive aesthetic, the K70 RGB TKL Champion Series offers a tournament mode switch, so you know you're looking at a gaming machine. A detachable USB-C cable is a nice addition that allows you to use your own cable and replace it down the road should it become damaged.
Being a Champion Series product, this keyboard was designed for and tested by esports gamers. There's a premium 8,000Hz polling rate, which is far faster than what many other mechanical keyboards offer. Based on a durable aluminum frame, you'll be able to carry this K70 with you to LAN gaming events without issue. The RGB-illuminated keys also create one killer light show for when you're ready to start your session. Other highlights include precision-molded PBT double-shot keycaps, making this one of the better TKL options.
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61
All the frills, none of the cost
The Royal Kludge RK61 is a budget-friendly mechanical keyboard with a choice of mechanical key switches and hot-swappable sockets with five-pin support. It also has 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C, and customizable RGB backlighting.
- Hot-swappable sockets for modding
- Three connectivity options
- Incredible value
- No numpad, arrow keys, or F-row
- Short battery life
It's possible to enjoy decent typing and gaming experiences with a budget-friendly mechanical keyboard, so long as you know which ones to avoid (there are a few terrible mechanical keyboards out there). The ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 offers excellent value. It's a 60% mechanical keyboard that can be purchased with a few different switches pre-installed.
And yes, I said pre-installed. This keyboard may be affordable, but you can hot-swap the switches for aftermarket options. You've got all the RGB lighting you'll ever need, and there's even a wireless option if you'd rather not be tethered to your PC. It does only have 13 hours of battery life when on the lowest backlight setting, but that's okay, as it will charge up when you plug in the USB-C cable to continue using it. Interestingly, this keyboard supports five-pin switches, something that even more expensive mod-friendly keyboards fail to have.
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
For that sweet Chroma glow
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a 65% mechanical keyboard with lag-free wireless connectivity, deep customization of macros, key maps, profiles, and Chroma RGB lighting, and a choice of Razer's own key switches.
- Choice of Razer switches
- Lag-free wireless connectivity
- Customizable Chroma RGB
- Expensive if not on sale
- No hot-swap sockets
There's not much to dislike about the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed. It's an incredible piece of kit and is a close contender for our best mechanical keyboard spot. Razer has been making keyboards for a good few years now, and the company knows a thing or two.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a super-compact 65% keyboard. Razer offers either its in-house Green or Yellow switches for the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, depending on whether you're after silent typing or gaming with some tactile feedback. Since this is a HyperSpeed keyboard, you can make full use of it without wires, chasing the internal battery using the USB-C port, which doubles up as a tether for using the keyboard without wireless capabilities.
And since this is a Razer keyboard, there's plenty of RGB lighting. The company's software package, Razer Synapse, can also be used to customize the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, including macros, key mapping, and profiles.
HyperX Alloy Origins 60
Small of stature
The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is an affordable 60% form-factor mechanical keyboard with a choice of linear Red or tactile Aqua key switches in a portable package. It has a full aluminum body and a detachable USB-C cable.
- Full aluminum body
- Removable USB-C cable for longevity
- Decent customization software
- No hot-swap sockets
- Only two switch options
When you're wanting to save surface space or fancy something a little different, a 60% mechanical keyboard may be what you require. A 60% keyboard essentially removes the numpad, navigational cluster, and function row to create a more compact keyboard, and the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is the best option available.
This is an amazing gaming keyboard for the price. When switching from a full-size keyboard, it may take some time to grow accustomed to the smaller size. The Alloy Origins 60 also doesn't have all the high-end premium features we've seen in other keyboards in this collection. Still, it makes good use of an aluminum body and has all the flashy RGB lighting options you'll ever need. Should you be on the hunt for a keyboard that strikes a good balance between performance, value, and aesthetics, you could do much worse than the HyperX Alloy Origins 60.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
For when you need all the keys and then some
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is one of the most feature-rich keyboards you can buy, with macro keys, a rotary encoder, and dedicated media controls. It's also full of Chroma RGB and has a magnetic wrist rest.
- Razer Command Dial is great
- Magnetic wrist rest
- Eight dedicated macro keys
- Expensive
- Wired only
Sometimes, games like MMOs and MMORPGs need more keys and more functionality than a basic keyboard can provide. That's when the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro comes in, with a full 104/105 key mechanical keyboard with more added extras than you can shake a glowstick at. It has eight dedicated macro keys for easily chaining in-game commands, dedicated media keys that can also double as macros for keyboard commands if you prefer, and the Razer Command Dial, which is a customizable rotary encoder for even more functionality.
Our reviewer loved how customizable it was, with the Command Dial powering through gaming actions, while doing double duty in productivity programs like Photoshop. It's got 38 customizable glow zones because it wouldn't be a Razer keyboard without lots of tweakable RGB lighting. You get a choice of tactile and clicky Green switches or smooth, silent Yellow switches, both created by Razer. Both are great for typing or gaming, so it's up to your preferences on noise level and physical feedback.
Logitech G915
Low profile keys give a laptop feel
The Logitech G915 is a low-profile mechanical keyboard with wireless connectivity for those desktop typists that prefer the feel of a notebook's keyboard. It's got a 30-hour battery life and a choice of three switch types.
- Wireless connectivity with low-lag
- Full-sized keyboard
- Low-profile switches
- Expensive
- No hot-swap sockets
The Logitech G915 is our favorite wireless mechanical keyboard. It's full-sized, including the numpad, all function key rows, and is packed with features. You'll get macro keys, multi-device pairing for easy switching, RGB lighting, and LIGHTSPEED wireless capabilities. Because of the low-profile key switches, you'll be able to use this keyboard without a wrist rest, if preferred.
Because of the low latency wireless connection, the Logitech G915 is also great for gaming. Three Logitech low-profile switches are available when purchasing the keyboard: GL Tactile, GL Linear, or GL Clicky. The internal battery pack can last for up to 30 hours and only takes a few minutes to charge to full.
Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB
Split for your comfort
The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB is an ergonomic mechanical keyboard that splits into two halves so that you can get the perfect typing angle for your body. Finding the optimal angle guards against RSI, and your wrists will thank you.
- Ergonomic, split keyboard guards against RSI
- Can use one half when gaming for more mouse space
- Stylish RGB glow
- Expensive
- Might take some getting used to
This is a special keyboard, as you can see from the product image. The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB is a mechanical keyboard with a split design, joined together through a single cable. Thanks to this design, you can position the two halves of the keyboard to create a more comfortable typing or gaming experience.
It's not all about ergonomics, however. This split design would also allow a streamer to position the microphone in the middle for better acoustics and to limit noise from keystrokes.
A choice of Cherry MX switches is available, depending on personal preferences for feedback and switch mechanics. And yes, there's RGB lighting! Interestingly, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB has game keys, quick remap support, a 1ms response time, NKRO, a game mode, and profile support.
ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
ROG the bank for this one
The Asus Azoth is a 75% form factor custom mechanical keyboard with 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity. It comes with a choice of three ROG switches and hot-swap sockets in case you prefer any of the hundreds of types on the market.
- Three connectivity options - 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C
- Pre-lubed switches and stabilizers
- Comes with switch modding kit
- Expensive
- No numpad
The Asus ROG Azoth is a premium mechanical keyboard that might be gamer styled, but it's perfect for getting some work done during the day. It comes with ROG NX linear Red, tactile Brown, or clicky Blue switches fitted in hot-swap sockets so that it can be easily modded to suit your preferences. Those switches come pre-lubed, a rarity in the prebuilt keyboard market, with pre-lubed stabilizers to guard against rattly spacebar and modifier keys. The OLED screen can show GIFs, system info, or audio visualizations, which is a neat touch.
The low-latency 2.4GHz connection is power-efficient, with up to 2,000 hours of gaming, according to Asus, if all the RGB backlight and the OLED are switched off. The keyboard also has a silicone gasket mount design, which essentially shock-absorbs your typing for a better feel. Asus includes a full kit for keyboard modding, including a switch opener, keycap puller, lube station, brush, and a bottle of the popular lubricant for switches among the enthusiast crowd, Krytox GPL-205-GD0.
Logitech MX Mechanical
It's a productivity beast
The Logitech MX Mechanical is a low-profile mechanical keyboard from arguably the class leader in computer peripherals. It features Bluetooth, Logi Bolt 2.4GHz wireless or USB-C connectivity, and a full complement of keys for functions and number wrangling.
- Low-profile design for comfort
- Three switch options
- Long battery life
- Boring design
- No hot-swap sockets
The MX Mechanical from Logitech is a low-profile, high-quality mechanical keyboard with shorter switches that feel closer to the scissor switches used in notebook keyboards than full-height mechanical switches. That might be a bonus to you if you already like the typing experience on your notebook. It comes in 104-key full-size or 75% mini sizes, losing the numpad in the process. It has white LED backlighting, which has power-saving sensors that only enable the lighting when it detects your hands are close enough to start typing.
It comes with a Logi Bolt receiver for 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and it also has Bluetooth. USB-C is also used to recharge the internal battery. Logitech says it can run for 15 days on one charge with the backlight on and a staggering 10 months without the LED glow. You can customize some of the keys with the Logi Options software, but there is no way to save these customizations to the keyboard, so you have to keep the software installed.
The best mechanical keyboard to buy in 2023 is a matter of preference
There's no shortage of mechanical keyboards on the market, but these are the ones we think are worth considering. No single keyboard will be perfect for everyone, but with options like hot-swap sockets to change the key switches easily, you can find a keyboard and tune it to your tastes.
The Keychron Q1 Pro is a great option to consider mainly because it's an absolute joy to use and can be modded. It also has wireless connectivity options for multi-device usage or banishing unsightly cables. Those leaning towards a small keyboard can check out the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, which we think is one of the best 60% keyboards out there.
Keychron Q1 Pro
Premium through-and-through
The Keychron Q1 Pro is a solidly built, full-metal mechanical keyboard with hot-swap sockets for easy modding, wired and wireless connectivity, and it works with Macs and PCs.
For a quality mechanical keyboard typing experience without spending too much cash, the Royal Kludge RK61 is my recommendation. It has premium features like hot-swap sockets and wireless connectivity for a price that's hard to believe.
The good thing about many of these keyboards is that you can customize them — either while purchasing before checkout or manually by yourself after you get them. You can truly fine-tune your experience by adding different types of switches and styles of keycaps. We recommend checking out our beginner's guide to mechanical keyboards to learn more. Alternatively, you can also join our XDA Computing Forums to discuss anything and everything related to computing, including mechanical keyboards.